“The most important thing I have learnt in life is to FOCUS my energy on what is important in life.”
–Bill Gates
Greatness leaves footprints.
Both Bill Gates and Warren Buffett agree that FOCUS is THE KEY FOR SUCCESS IN LIFE.
Now these are just two pretty powerful minds riding in the same peloton- which makes for some pretty interesting insights and reading.
IN BUSINESS;
Here in South Arica, businessman Raymond Ackerman proved it with his FOCUSED four- legged TABLE MODEL…… building one of SA’s top supermarkets chains from scratch. His strategic focus was a model based on the four legs of a table – each deemed to be one on his key business principles of his management philosophy. The four legs of his table were the people leg (human resources), the merchandise leg (production), the promotion leg (marketing/technology) and the administration leg (including finances).
Each leg had to be strong enough to keep the table upright, and of the same length, enough to keep the table balanced and level. If any one of the legs wobbles, the table tilts; if a leg collapses, the table falls. The table settings placed on this flat, secure base are the day-today activities and operations of the business.
IN SPORT;
In sport let’s choose mountaineering as an unusual example, going back to the days of the great Everest explorers, who climbed Everest without supplementary oxygen – the greats like George Mallory. Reinhold Messer – Sir Edmund Hillary – Tenzing Norgay – Erik Shipton and others.
Unfortunately, Everest has now become the new playground of the rich with many changes. But, it was the early explorers who conquered the mountain with four- pronged strategies – knowing exactly when to be on the mountain and when to be off the mountain.
Their strategies based on a four- legged FOCUS model – are the same as in business, sport and health.
Here are the table legs of the great explorers:
TABLE LEG #1: THE RIGHT MINDSET – the power of the human resolve
‘’by resolve we mean to decide firmly or formally on a course of action; to determine and decide in purpose; to free from doubt; to make ready in mind”
“If you cannot understand that there is something in man which responds to the challenge of this mountain and goes out to meet it, that the struggle of life itself is upward and forever upward, then you won’t see why we go.”
–George Mallory: English Mountaineer and Everest Explorer
“By climbing mountains we were not learning how big we were. We were finding out how breakable, how weak and how full of fear we are. You can only get this if you expose yourself to high danger. I have always said that a mountain without danger is not a mountain.”
–Reinhold Messner: Italian Mountaineer and Everest Conqueror
TABLE LEG #2: THE RIGHT KNOWLEDGE- the power of human awareness
- taking heed of the right knowledge from the right people
TABLE LEG #3: THE RIGHT SUPPORT – the power of the human collective
- selecting your inner care team with ultimate care
TABLE LEG #4: THE GAME PLAN –the power of the human focus
- aligning your Purpose, Priorities and Performance goals. (3P’s)
AND IN HEALTH.
FOCUS is even more powerful when one looks at a famous cyclist – Lance Armstrong – who used a focused and very similar four- pronged table model to conquer CANCER ……………..and the Pyrenees…. and the Alps
He shared it all openly in his first book- a very insightful, interesting and inspirational read.
It’s not about the bike’ (read Chapter Nine)
Many refer to Lance Armstrong as a seven times Tour de FRANCE cheat. BUT millions adore and admire him for what he shared on CANCER and how he conquered with a four -legged table model .
BUT , few took notice – mainly because HE was questioning an industry showing an exponential growth trends via chemotherapy , radiation and surgical practices.
IT HAD BECOME AN ECONOMY within itself.
And anyone who shoots down an economy will be shot down quickly.
He really had no chance to be heard.
The story did have some interest as years before United States President Richard Nixon had signed the National Cancer Act into effect in 1971. Most Americans – and the rest of the world – believed that if America could put a man on the moon, the war against cancer would soon be over.
BUT, it never happened.
More than 43 years later rogue cancer cells continue to cause death, destroy lives and devastate families.
Every day in the US alone, more than 1500 people succumb to the dis-ease.
In South Africa that number is estimated to be 150.
Today worldwide more people die of cancer than Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria combined.
I just wish CANCER is NEVER treated as an economy – like any economic war is – and that other CANCER CHAMPIONS do get their opportunity to share their cancer success stories.
By mastering Armstrong’s four- pronged strategy to conquer cancer one will soon be back to mastering ones own health and life.
Read Lance’s first book to find out more – or email myself for a complimentary copy of my book: “What every woman should know about breast cancer” – it is FREE to you at robopie@thegameplan.co.za
Cancer can be conquered.
That is a given if you TAKE HEED from the cancer champions who have conquered it.
‘Without cancer, I never would have won a single Tour de France. Cancer taught me a plan for more purposeful living and that in turn taught me how to train and to win more purposefully. It taught me that pain has a reason and that sometimes the experience of losing things – whether health or a car or an old sense of self – has its own value in the scheme of life. Pain and loss are great enhancers.’
Lance Armstrong
Whether it’s a Business to conquer, Everest to conquer, The Tour de France to conquer or the ‘mountain’ called Cancer to conquer – there is always a four- pronged FOCUSSED way to do it!
Take Heed.
ROB OPIE
FREE e BOOK OFFER
Get a copy of Rob’s latest eBook: 21 SPORTING STORIES – your free easy to read copy delivered direct to your inbox simply send an email request to robopie@thegameplan.co.za
It’s a sports book full of interesting short stories and crammed full of inspiration and insight.
ENJOY- your feedback is always appreciated and please do share with family and friends.
LAUNCHED in 2023
It is inherent to the human condition that we bond
Rob’s interactive, insightful and inspiring TALK: “Champions do More”– at your offices to get your TEAM back together and powered up for a great 2023. Contact Rob direct to find out more.
Email to: robopie@thegameplan.co.za
If you would like a complimentary copy of any of my published eBooks – including PERSONAL BRANDING, please CLICK HERE to read more and request your FREE copy.
Email to: robopie@thegameplan.co.za
Read more: www.thegameplan.co.za
Rob Opie is a Brand Strategist, Author, Keynote Speaker, Performance Coach to business and sports teams – and life coach to those on a journey to self-actualisation.
- Through his game-changing THE GAME PLAN METHOD he helps both Teams and Individuals to achieve their own greatest potential in life.
For further Insights, Innovation and Inspiration, please visit www.thegameplan.co.za
